Mouthguards

What are mouthguards?

Mouthguards are worn when you play contact sports or are training for those sports; they protect your teeth and gums in case of a collision with the ball or another player. Mouthguards are a lot like the airbags in your vehicle. They act as a shield to protect your mouth by absorbing the shock of the contact with your mouth.

Here are a few examples of sporting activities during which you should wear a mouthguard:

horse riding

skateboarding

soccer

squash

cricket

water skiing

netball

in-line skating

softball

martial arts sparring

boxing

Why should you wear a mouthguard?

Your mouthguard keeps your teeth from chipping, cracking, and falling out as a result of a facial injury. Mouthguards can also prevent you losing soft tissue if you get hit in the face, and can further protect you from getting a concussion or breaking your jaw if the blow received is especially damaging and forceful. These kinds of injuries can result in very expensive treatments to restore your teeth and mouth in order for them to retain normal function and appearance.

What are the different kinds of mouthguards?

There are a few different options for purchasing mouthguards.

Over the counter mouthguards and Boil and bite mouthguards are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most sporting goods stores. Although they can provide some protection, they may not be the best option for you. Studies show that these types of mouthguards can act as a projectile in your mouth if there is an impact to your face. They also do not provide adequate protection for your jaw joint due to the looseness of the fit.

Custom fitted mouthguards are only available from your dentist. Your dentist takes a mould of your teeth. From there, your dentist creates a mouthguard that is custom fitted to your mouth. These kinds of mouthguards are preferable because they fit your mouth better, providing the best protection in the case of a facial injury.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) recommends that self-fitted, over-the-counter mouthguards are inadequate and, for effective protection, a professionally-fitted custom mouthguard is essential. The lifetime cost of a dental injury justifies the expense of good protection to prevent the injury in the first place.